Know Your Team: Jelan Kendrick

London Lightning

6’6

Guard

From Marietta, Georgia

After taking a step back from basketball, Jelan Kendrick is now showing all he has to offer as he plays his sophomore professional season in the NBL Canada.

Kendrick saw acclaim and success as early as his time with Wheeler High School in his hometown. Rated the 15th-best high school player, he was named to the 2010 All-American game and Jordan Brand Classic, both times playing alongside future NBA stars Kyrie Irving, Jared Sullinger and Tristan Thompson.

From this, he was recruited to the Ole Miss Rebels, but finding the team an improper fit, he was cut. He then joined the Indian Hills Warriors in Iowa, where he was the team’s highest scorer at the end of the season.

He later joined the UNLV Running Rebels for his remaining two years of NCAA eligibility. Starting in 26 games in his final year, he saw the best averages of his college career: 7.1 points and 4.2 rebounds.

Kendrick then took a break form basketball to start his own business before deciding to return to the sport in 2017, joining the Nevada Desert Dogs in North America Pro Basketball.

This year he takes another step up in his basketball career with the NBL Canada's most successful team. So far he has averaged 7.0 points and 3.5 rebounds in four games, and if this trend continues he could be playing a much bigger role for the Lightning as the season goes on.

Picture: Beth Hall